GROG readers, take heart! Yes, sometimes it seems as if the Muse has flown, never to be seen again. We've all been there. But if you're looking for a way out of the mire, select option (d), and consider these tried-and-true secrets for blasting through that block.

1. Move! Get up from your dreary
desk, and try one (or more) of these potentially productive options for movement:

a.Take a
walk. Some writers call this “walking the story.” It’s smart to carry a
notebook and pencil, or some other way to record your thoughts, because
inspiration often shows up on long walks.

b.Move to a
different writing space. Maybe it’s just to a comfy chair in the den. Maybe
you can sit with your laptop under the spreading oak. You’ll benefit from looking at the world from a new perspective.

c.Run some errands.
If it’s stuff you have to do anyway, don’t think of it as wasting time . . .
just be sure to keep your mind open to creative thinking while driving or
walking or riding. And if you have to pull over and write something down – do it.

d.Take a
shower. Sometimes, ahem, we at-home writers might “forget.” Look down. Are
you still wearing your pajamas at 2:00 p.m.? Perhaps a nice shower and a change
of clothes would get the blood flowing to the brain.

2.Find
Fresh Inspiration. There are many ways to recharge your writing batteries and collect new writing ideas.

a.Read.Read mentor texts. Read poetry. Read
anything. Notice what works and doesn’t work, yes. But read, read, read, for
the pleasure of it.

b.Watch kids.
Don't be creepy, but if you’re a writer for children, you must
understand how kids operate to write authentically about and for them. Sit by a
playground or park, if you can, or spend time observing your own children or
grandchildren.

c.Fill the
well. If your creativity is running dry, consider visiting an art show or a
museum, or drawing or painting or playing some music or singing or doing whatever
it is that feeds your artist’s spirit.

Leonid Pasternak, “The Passion of Creation” [wikimedia]

d.Call a
writing buddy. Commiserate with someone who understands. Ask your friend to hold you accountable
for your writing. Talk over some ideas that might work.

e.Work on
your craft.Are you thinking about signing up for a course or a workshop?
Perhaps it’s a good time to buy a book about the craft of writing, and start
working through it.

f.Stretch your writing muscles.Switch it up with some writing exercises. If your picture book isn’t working, try making a picture book
dummy. Compose a poem in your main character’s voice. Or change your
story from the past tense to the present. Find the fun!

3.Productive procrastination.You must,
of course, avoid regular procrastination -- the time-wasting kind.
But in a pinch, a bit of writing-related procrastination may prove profitable. So if creative energy eludes you, try some tasks that use other
parts of your writing brain.

a.Pursue the business of writing. Update (or write) your lists, your spreadsheet
of manuscripts, your chart of submissions. Send a reminder to someone who has been
holding your manuscript or query for six months; submit a piece if it’s ready.

b.Organize
your files. Be on the lookout for a prior draft or an old manuscript that
calls to you. Is it time for a fresh revision? Is this just what an editor
wants now? Can you breathe new life into this piece?

c.Check your
deadlines.Maybe you have another
project that’s due soon, or the contest you've meaning to enter is about to close. Deadlines can be highly motivating.

d.Research.Maybe you need to do library or field research or photo research, for fiction or nonfiction work. Maybe you can work investigate possible publishers, agents, markets, or
theme lists, doing research can inspire new writing ideas. Completing a bibliography can
feel very productive, too, and remind you just how much you know about your topic.

e.Plan a presentation. Have you been
meaning to schedule a school visit or bookstore presentation? Think about
working on this.

f.Consider your writing plan.Identify your writing priorities. Do you want to sign up for a writing course? Read
a book on craft? Do you want to try a different genre? Join a writing group? Volunteer for SCBWI? All these actions can move your writing forward . . . and get you out of the
block.

And, finally, one of
my personal favorites. . . write a blog post!

If you have your own writer's block remedies to share, let us know in the comments. And happy writing!

WOW, Christy! What a way to begin a Monday. =] You've offered lots of great ways to overcome those dreaded times that tend to creep up on writers. Thank you for all your suggestions on how NOT to be a (writer) block-head!

great post! "Filling the well" is important - I need to get back to my weekly "artist dates" (go to a gallery, walk, museum, play with paint....). And as many of us can attest - writing a blog post is a great block-breaker because once you get writing you keep on going.

Fun blog on writer's block. I am a huge proponent to get outside for awhile and then also on typing up a pb I like and then outlining it and matching it up to my story. I always get ideas on what isn't working or what could even be stronger doing this.

These are mine, too. Plus visit your posse. Your local writers, your online writers or readers of books in your book club or wherever. Being with live people who are as into reading & writing as much as you can be a big boost.

Another thing to do is lighten up & read some of those Larson/Garfield/ Trudeau/Cathy/ other cartoon paperbacks around the house or at your favorite used bookstore. Amazing what laughter can do for a blocked keyboardist.

I think I usually use the first three :) I have never heard of --walking the story! It's one I will definitely give a go! I have a LifeBook. It's a collection of little bits and pieces of my life. Lots of times, I will sit and look through my LifeBook. It's fun to reminisce, but, many times ideas pop into my head :)

Thank you, Chris, for a thorough list of tips and reminders for writers who want to get out of the funk and persevere. There are times when I find myself low on writer's energy and realize I worked right through lunch. Time to take a lunch break and pour myself a tall glass of iced tea. I find listening to musical lyrics or watching a documentary can encourage my writerly thoughts and ideas.